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Archiver > HUGUENOTS-WALLOONS-EUROPE > 2003-09 > 1064248532


From: "Herman" <>
Subject: RE: [HWE] First Timer
Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2003 18:36:01 +0200
In-Reply-To: <11.1919fef3.2ca072a7@aol.com>


Hello Tom,

I also have Mesnards which I'm always chasing after. I have a Georges
Meinard * abt1633 or 1651 St Martin de la Brusque, France x Jeanne Ascot *
abt 1637, Provence, France. They had three children:

Jean Mesnard * abt 1659, Provence, + bef 1692, Drakenstein, Cape of Good
Hope, South Africa x Louise Corbonne + 1689, daughter of NN Carbonne and
Maria Anthouarde
Andre Meinard * abt 1660, Provence x Honorade Roumanne * abt 1656, Provence
Philippe Meinard *abt 1662, Provence, France

It would appear that Jean would have been living in Provence around
1677-1683. Georges Meinard probably came from Saint Martin de la Brusque.

Jean Mesnard became the founder of the Mesnard family in South Africa. The
name became corrupted to "Minnaar," as it is still used to this day.
Philippe was a very common name in the Minnaar family.

These Mesnards are counted as Huguenots today, but they were actually of the
Waldensian faith. They came to South Africa from Holland as French refugees
in 1688 on a ship called the "China" (erroneously known as the "Berg China"
in most history sources). Their escape from France was a most dramatic one
under the most dreadful circumstances. Apparently their flight took them to
Holland, from whence they boarded the ship for South Africa. Even this last
voyage was one of those nightmarish passages in which there was much drama
and many people died. From the bits and pieces known about this family's
flight from France, it seems clear that their life story would have been
deserving of an epic book or film if only they had kept a detailed diary.

Jean Mesnard set out for freedom with 9 children, plus some of his friends
and in-laws, but of his family, all died but one little 11 year old boy,
Philippe Mesnard. Little Philippe was left an orphan not terribly long after
their arrival in Cape Town. He was raised by other Huguenots from Saint
Martin de la Brusque. He later married another Huguenot daughter, Jeanne Moy
and became the ancestor of all the South African Mesnards. The Mesnard
history in South Africa alone, is rather romantic and filled with high
adventure and drama. I have often wondered whether they may have left traces
of their presence in Saint Martin de la Brusque. I hope to be able to go an
search there one day.

Along with the Mesnard, it seems that there were other Huguenot families-all
of which are major South African families today. Families such as Roux
(Rousse), Joubert (Jaubert), Malan, Jourdaan (Jourdan), etc. Here also,
there appears to be Waldensian connections. They all arrived together in the
China. I suspect that they must have mostly come from the same region in
France. Perhaps they were all friends. In some cases, there are clues which
makes one suspect that some of these families may have been related.

If you see even a vaguely possibly connection, I'd like to hear from you. I
sometimes get a very vague impression that some of "my" more immediate
Mesnard family might possibly have crossed over to America at the time that
rest of the clan went to Africa. All sorts of vague clues, but little fact.
Still, the truth is probably out there. We all just need to find it.

As it turned out, the move to Africa was probably a very good idea. Times
were stormy, but on the whole, I think all of these families prospered and
flourished at the Cape more than they ever would have in France.

Regards,
Herman Labuschagne --> (Yes, "Labuschagne" is another Huguenot
connection-original spelling "De la Buscagne")
Johannesburg, South Africa


ginal Message-----
From: [mailto:]
Sent: 22 September 2003 05:44 PM
To:
Subject: [HWE] First Timer


Thanks for what you do !

My cousin is visiting me in the USA from France and we read a few
recent inquiries
that urges him to ask for help in finding data on Philippe
Mesnard/Philippe Mesnard
d' Ayre. of the area Saintongue, France. He was a French Minister
married to
Francoise Guenon. My cousin would make a good contact for anyone
with
help.

Thanks. From Tom Genung





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